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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at women empowerment and reducing illiteracy in rural communities has distributed different food and non-food items to over 1,200 widows in Abuja as part of events to mark the 2024 International Widows Day.
Women from different faith and background from across the FCT and beyond were invited to benefit from the distribution of the food and non-food items as well as free medical outreaches.
The United Nations had declared June 23rd as International Widows Day to draw global attention to the voices and experiences of widows, and to galvanize the unique support that they might need for a better living.
Ignatius Newman Ezeigbo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, while addressing the women said the empowerment outreach for the women, particularly the widows started years ago in Maiduguri, Borno State, long before the UN designated a specific date to celebrate the widows.
He said: “This 2024 outreach with the theme ‘Neglected but not forgotten” is the 14th in the series of the events by the Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation, to celebrate the widows, and to assure them that widowhood is not a curse but a state of change in marital status.”
He acknowledged the fact that worsening economic situation in Nigeria could have tempered the programme, but assured the women of his vow and commitment to the cause of improving the lives of the women through financial support and skills empowerment.
He said: “For the past 14 years, I have single-handedly, through the help of God, being responsible for the financial burden of this intervention. I have neither received a financial support from the government nor partners. It has been my personal money and support from few friends.
“Nevertheless, we need support, financial and otherwise, to give more empowerment opportunities to these widows so they can be useful to themselves and their families, financially and otherwise. Many of them have been trained in several entrepreneurship skills, awaiting funds and start-up kits.”
Newman said he was happy and fulfilled that the Foundation has been able to sustain and
accomplish its desire to champion an aggressive campaign on the need for empowerment of widows, orphans and other vulnerable people in the society.
He said the campaign has succeeded in restoring hope for thousands of women and their dependents, some of whom lost hope of survival when they lost their husbands.
He said: “The Foundation has transformed the lives of thousands of widows and their dependents in past few years, through opportunity for skills acquisition, financial empowerment, monthly medical check-up, payment of school fees, amongst others.”
He confirmed that their interventions are growing everyday because they have continued to identify areas of need in the society, particularly as it concerns women, children and other vulnerable groups.
He encouraged the women to remain steadfast and know that God is with them, and He won’t allow whatever that can consume them to come close to them or their children.
He assured them that efforts are being made to expand and strengthen the outreaches in their various zones across the FCT and beyond for more result.
Many of the beneficiaries thanked the donor for his unwaivering support for the widows and orphans over the years, praying that God continue to bless him abundantly with good health and other blessings.
One of the women from Keffi zone who identified herself as Christiana, said she has benefitted greatly from the Rock of Ages Foundation in terms of food items, drugs and several other interventions over the years. “I have been empowered with so many things from this Foundation, and I remain eternally grateful for that.”
Photo caption
Ignatius Newman presenting some of the items to widows.
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